Quarterbacks
Must Starts:
- Cam Newton (vs DEN) Back from the COVID-19 list, Cam will be the center of this offense once again. Expect a good fantasy outcome against a weak Denver pass defense.
- Ben Roethlisberger (vs CLE) Cleveland has looked good this year, but their secondary has looked dismantled week after week. The combination of Chase Claypool, James Conner, Eric Ebron and Juju Smith-Schuster should serve Roethlisberger a great amount of success this week.
- Matthew Stafford (at JAX) Fresh off a bye week, Stafford and company take on a Jacksonville defense that gave the Houston Texans their first win a week ago. Put Stafford in your lineup unless you have a star quarterback above him.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs NYJ) A week ago, Fitzmagic threw for an even 350 passing yards and three touchdowns against an injured San Francisco 49ers defense. This week, he faces the (0-5) New York Jets. Expect back-to-back good fantasy weeks for the veteran signal-caller.
- Ryan Tannehill (vs HOU) Tannehill led the Tennessee Titans to an astonishing 42-16 victory over the then undefeated Buffalo Bills. Expect more success this week against a Houston team that secured their first victory a week ago.
Must Avoids:
- Joe Burrow (at IND) Burrow looked off last week. In reality, he looked like a rookie quarterback. This week, he should run into the same issue as he lines up against one of the best defenses in the league. Indianapolis has given up the second fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position in 2020.
- Carson Wentz (vs BAL) It seems like Wentz constantly makes this list week after week. That’s because he deserves to, and this week isn’t going to go his way either. Baltimore should have no problem shutting the whole entire Philadelphia offense down this week.
- Teddy Bridgewater (vs CHI) Bridgewater has found success recently. Him and his team have locked down three straight wins to take a share of the top spot in the NFC South Division. Expect his fantasy numbers to dip this week as Chicago has allowed the second fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
- Baker Mayfield (at PIT) More than likely, Mayfield will play through his rib injury against his divisional opponent. Do not expect a lot from the man who keeps appearing on every Hulu commercial these days.
- Jimmy Garoppolo (vs LAR) This may be the start of Garoppolo’s downfall. He looked rough last week after battling an ankle injury all week prior. Don’t expect much fantasy production this week as he and his team face off against a great Rams’ defense.
Running Backs
Must Starts:
- David Montgomery (at CAR) This may be the start of the week. Montgomery has yet to put together a monster fantasy week yet this season. Carolina has allowed the most fantasy points to his position this season, and they allowed Todd Gurley to easily rush over 100 yards a week ago (121 on 14 carries). Expect 20-plus PPR points this week.
- Alexander Mattison (vs ATL) You saw what Mattison can do with Dalvin Cook out of the lineup. He rushed for 112 yards on 20 attempts last week against Seattle. This week, he faces an Atlanta defense that allowed Mike Davis to score 29.9 PPR points a week ago. Pick him up, start him, do whatever it takes to have him in your lineup this week!
- Myles Gaskin (vs NYJ) Any running back who plays the Jets should have a great fantasy outcome. The rookie is coming off his best performance of the season a week ago. He poured in 20.1 PPR points, and he recorded his first rushing touchdown of his young career.
- Ronald Jones (vs GB) Jones quietly put together his second straight 100-plus yard performance a week ago against the Chicago Bears. Expect more success this week as Green Bay has allowed the second most fantasy points to running backs this season.
- Jonathan Taylor (vs CIN) Expect a lot of touches this week for Taylor as his team faces a weak Cincinnati defense. The rookie should have no problems scoring at least 15 PPR points this week.
Must Avoids:
- Leonard Fournette (vs GB) Although Green Bay is a good matchup for any running back in the league this season, Fournette will more than likely watch Ronald Jones carry the load this week. Expect Fournette to ease back into the offense once he is fully healed from his ankle injury.
- Melvin Gordon (at NE) Gordon has had a tremendous season so far in 2020. Unfortunately, he is battling an illness, and Belichick will do whatever it takes to shut him down this week. Expect a down fantasy week from Gordon.
- Mark Ingram (at PHI) Philadelphia has been stout against fantasy running backs this season. They have allowed the eighth least fantasy points to the position. Expect a split amount of touches between Ingram, JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards once again this week.
- Frank Gore (at MIA) Yes, Gore should be placed as the Jets’ starting running back for now. No, he will not end the season as their starter. Expect Gore and La’Mical Perine to split touches this week. Neither one should be worth starting.
- Cam Akers (at SF) The rookie led Los Angeles in rushing last week (61 yards on 9 attempts). Until he can prove he will out touch both Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson Jr., do not put him in your lineup.
Wide Receivers
Must Starts:
- Jamison Crowder (at MIA) Crowder is averaging 22.5 PPR points in his three games he has participated in this season. This week, he has a favorable matchup against a Miami defense that has allowed about 254 passing yards a game. Sam Darnold typically looks Crowder’s way the majority of the time.
- AJ Brown (vs HOU) Brown caught seven of his nine targets for 82 yards and a touchdown a week ago. This week, he faces a weak Houston defense that should struggle defending Brown and the rest of the Tennessee offense.
- DeVante Parker (vs NYJ) As mentioned before, start players that take on the New York Jets this week. Parker is clearly Miami’s top receiver on the team, and he has scored double-digit PPR points in his last four contests.
- Juju Smith-Schuster (vs CLE) Yes, Calypool stole the show last week for Pittsburgh. This week, expect more out of Smith-Schuster. He has a favorable matchup against a Cleveland defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to the wide receiver position this season.
- Justin Jefferson (vs ATL) Jefferson blew a huge opportunity last week against a poor Seattle secondary. He should deserve another chance this week against a dismal Atlanta defense.
Must Avoids:
- DJ Moore (vs CHI) Moore has been a huge disappointment this season in fantasy football. He has yet to put together back-to-back double digit PPR fantasy point totals. Expect this week to be another disappointing week for the young star. Chicago has given up the second least amount of fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
- Michael Gallup (vs ARI) With Dak Prescott out for the season, expect Gallup, Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb to regress as fantasy options this season. Gallup especially should struggle this week as Arizona tends to shut down slot receivers.
- Travis Fulgham (vs BAL) Although he is coming off a monster performance a week ago (10 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown), Fulgham should struggle this week. Baltimore ranks in the top ten against defending the pass this year. Expect more out of Zach Ertz and Miles Sanders out of the backfield this week.
- Cole Beasley (vs KC) Kansas City had been stout against all wide receivers they had faced before last week. Although Derek Carr and Henry Ruggs had their way last week, the Chiefs still found a way to limit Las Vegas’ pass-catchers outside of Ruggs and Waller. Beasley is Josh Allen’s third option. Sit him this week as Kansas City looks to be a bad matchup for the slot receiver.
- Tyler Boyd (at IND) Boyd showed that he can’t perform on a high level against a great defense. He only produced 8.2 PPR points on four catches for 42 yards a week ago against Baltimore. Expect more struggles this week against one of the top pass defenses in the league.
Tight Ends
Must Starts:
- TJ Hockenson (at JAX) The second-year pro tight end is averaging about 11.6 PPR points a game this season. He should continue to produce similar numbers this week against a terrible Jacksonville defense.
- Evan Engram (vs WAS) Washington has allowed the fifth most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Expect Engram to produce at least 12 PPR fantasy points this week as he has emerged as Daniel Jones’ number two target (behind Darius Slayton) on the team.
- Eric Ebron (vs CLE) Cleveland’s secondary has been atrocious this season. They have allowed the sixth most fantasy points to the tight end position. Expect a big week for Ben Roethlisberger, Juju Smith-Scuster and Ebron.
- Robert Tonyan (at TB) The last time we saw Tonyan on the playing field, he scored three touchdowns while also catching six passes for 98 yards. Outside of Davante Adams, Tonyan could be Aaron Rodgers’ top target. Lazard is out indefinitely, and Tonyan has scored five receiving touchdowns in his last three contests. Start him against a Tampa Bay defense that surrendered 12.3 PPR points to Jimmy Graham a week ago.
- Mike Gesicki (vs NYJ) As mentioned before (AGAIN), start any offensive player playing the New York Jets this week. Start Myles Gaskin, start Ryan Fitzmagic, start DeVante Parker, and start Gesicki! The starting Miami tight end is coming into week six hot off a five-catch, 91-yard performance from a week ago.
Must Avoids:
- Noah Fant (at NE) Fant is battling a lingering ankle injury going into week six. If he plays, he will be tasked with a difficult duty to go against a New England defense that has given up the fifth fewest PPR fantasy points this season.
- Tyler Higbee (at SF) Gerald Everett looked to be the top tight end for this Rams team a week ago (four catches for 90 yards). Higbee only caught two passes for 12 yards. Until he can prove that he is the top tight end on his own team, bench him on yours.
- Austin Hooper (at PIT) Hooper is coming off of back-to-back double-digit performances in PPR leagues. Expect his two-game double-digit scoring streak to end this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They rank in the top ten in the league this season defending tight ends.
- Zach Ertz (vs BAL) Although there is this feeling that he may come out of his shell this week against Baltimore, bench Ertz until he can prove to be a viable fantasy option. In his last two performances, he has only produced a total of 8.5 PPR points. Yikes.
- Mo Alie-Cox (vs CIN) Cox is battling a knee injury and looks to be doubtful this week against the Bengals. Expect more production out of Trey Burton as he will back up Jack Doyle in week six.
Defenses
Must Starts:
- Baltimore Ravens (at PHI)
- Indianapolis Colts (vs CIN)
- Los Angeles Rams (at SF)
- New England Patriots (vs DEN)
- Miami Dolphins (vs NYJ)
Must Avoids:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs GB)
- Cleveland Browns (at PIT)
- Philadelphia Eagles (vs BAL)
- San Francisco 49ers (vs LAR)
- Buffalo Bills (vs KC)
